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REPORT 



OF THE 



Passaic River Flood District 
Commission. 



DECEMBER 1ST, 1906. 



/ 



COMPLIMENTS OF 



Marshall O. Leighton 



REPORT ^m 



OF THE 



Y\ A Passaic River Flood District 
Commission. 



DECEMBER 1ST. 1906. 



Paterson Chronicle Co. 
1907. 






\ 1 191^ 
D, ot 0« 






PASSAIC RIVER FLOOD DISTRICT COMMISSION. 



RICHARD MORRELL, President, 
Passaic, N. J. 

JOHN M. BELL, Vice-President, 
Rutherford, N. J. 

FRANKLIN VAN WINKLE, Treasurer, 
Paterson, N. J. 

MARSHALL 0. LEIGHTON, 
Montclair, N. J. 

MORRIS R. SHERRERD, 
Newark, N. J. 



W. L. DILL, Clerk, 

Paterson, N. J. 



LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 

To Edward C. Stokes, Governor, and the members 
of the Senate and General Assembly of the 
State of New Jersey: 

In accordance with the provisions of law your 
Commission herewith presents its report, including 
the report of its engineer and such suggestions for 
legislation as have met with the approval of your 
Commission. 

Richard Morrell, 
John M. Bell, 
Franklin Van Winkle, 
Marshall 0. Leighton, 
Morris R. Sherrerd, 

Commissioners. 
Paterson, N. J., Dec. 1, 1906. 



REPORT OF COMMISSION. 
The Passaic River Flood District Commission, 
created under the authority of appropriate acts of 
the Legislature, approved April 19, 1904, and April 
29, 1905, respectively, presents the following report 
in response to a further act of such Legislature, 
approved April 25, 1906, as follows : 

An Act to authorize The Passaic River Flood 
District Commissioners to make a further investiga- 
tion in regard to the best methods of regulating 
the flow of torrential rivers in the Passaic River 
Flood District to protect persons and property 
therein from damage by floods, and to report a 
plan or method for this purpose to the Legislature 
of this State ; and providing also for the payment 
of the necessary expenditures made by the said 
Commissioners for this purpose : 

Whereas, The Legislature of this State by an act 
approved April nineteenth, one thousand 
nine hundred and four, authorized the Gov- 
ernor of this State, whenever the Legislature 
by special act should create and establish 
a river flood district within this State, de- 
fining the territory included therein, to 
nominate and appoint five persons residents 
within such district as Commissioners with 
power and authority to advise and adopt 
plans of suitable works for the control and 
restraint of flood waters of rivers flowing 
through the district, and to make and con- 
struct and maintain dams, reservoirs, sluices, 
canals, aqueducts and other works appro- 



8 Report of Flood Commission 

priate for preventing damage to property in 
the said district from the overflow of such 
river, and conferring upon said Commission- 
ers certain powers for this purpose ; and 

Whereas, The Legislature subsequently passed an 
act creating a flood district to be called 
"The Passaic River Flood District," desig- 
nating the boundaries thereof, which act 
was approved April 29, 1905 ; and 

Whereas, The said Commissioners have not been 
provided with the necessary funds with 
which to defray the expense of investigation 
as to the best method for the control and 
restraint of flood waters of the river flow- 
ing through the said district and have as 
yet adopted no specific plan therefor ; and 

Whereas, It is deemed advisable that the said 
Commissioners should make such investi- 
gation and report a definite and detailed 
plan or method, and a detailed estimate of 
the probable cost of obtaining the necessary 
funds, property and rights, and of con- 
structing the necessary works, as well as the 
cost of maintaining the same, and also re- 
port in detail the benefits which in their 
opinion will accrue to the lands specially 
benefitted by said works, and the benefits 
which will accrue to each county and munic- 
ipality in said district ; therefore 

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General As- 
sembly of the State of New Jersey : 

1. The said Commissioners be and they are 
hereby directed to proceed to investigate plans and 
methods for the controlling of flood waters of the 
said district, and to report what in their opinion 
after such investigation is the most feasible and 



Report of Flood Commission 9 

best plan for this purpose, which report shall set 
out in detail the plan adopted by the Commission- 
ers, with a detailed estimate of the cost of construct- 
ing the said works, as well as the cost in detail of 
maintaining the same, and the said Com.missioners 
shall also report the special benefits which will in 
their opinion accrue to lands or property specially 
benefitted, such estimates of special benefits to be by 
blocks of land or lands included between streets, 
roads or natural boundaries, and will state in detail 
the benefits which in their opinion will accrue to 
each county and municipality in said district ; the 
said report shall be filed by the said Commissioners 
with the Secretary of State of this State on or be- 
fore the first day of December, one thousand nine 
hundred and six, and shall be open to the examin- 
tion of all persons and municipalities interested, 
and the Secretary of State shall present the said 
report to the Legislature when it shall convene, 
and the said Commissioners shall also recommend 
in their said report a plan for raising the money 
which will be necessary to meet the expenditures 
which will be incurred by the said Commissioners 
in the purchase of lands and property and in the 
construction of works and the operation and main- 
tenance of the same, and shall also report a bill or 
act to carry the plan and method adopted into ex- 
ecution. 

2. The sum of twenty thousand dollars be and 
the same is hereby appropriated out of the State 
funds for the payment of the expenses to be in- 
curred by the said Commissioners in the perform- 
ance of the duties imposed upon them by this act. 

3. In case the plans reported by the said Com- 
missioners shall be approved by the Legislature 
and the Commissioners authorized to execute the 



10 Report of Flood Commission 

said work and to raise the moneys required there- 
for, the sum thus appropriated with interest thereon 
shall be deemed a part of the expense of construct- 
ion and shall be repaid, with interest at the rate of 
five per cent, per annum out of the first moneys re- 
ceived by the said Commissioners from the sale of 
bonds, or from taxes imposed, or otherwise. 

4. The Comptroller of the State of New Jersey 
is hereby authorized and directed to draw his 
warrant on the Treasurer of this State in favor of 
the Passaic River Flood District Commissioners for 
the sum of twenty thousand dollars, and the 
Treasurer of this State is hereby directed to pay the 
same. 

5. This act shall take effect immediately. 

The requirements in the act above quoted in- 
volve the consideration of two principal problems. 
The first consists of the investigation and proposal 
of methods and plans for controlling floods in The 
Passaic River Flood District and of estimating the 
cost of construction and maintenance of same. 
The second involves an estimate of the specific 
benefits that will accrue to lands and property and 
those accruing to each county and municipality in 
said district. 

It will be remembered that the Northern New Jer- 
sey Flood Commission,appointed under a concurrent 
resolution of the Senate and General Assembly on 
October 16, 1903, the membership of which was the 
same as that of the Commission here reporting, 
gave exhaustive study to various plans for flood 
protection surveyed and reported upon by its en- 
gineer corps and presented a report to the Legisla- 



Report of Flood Commission 11 

ture recommending, for consideration discussed in 
said report, the erection of a dam and controlling 
works across Pompton River at a point known as 
Mountain View, where said river emerges from 
what has been designated as the Pompton Basin. 
In addition to this report, various reports of the 
State Geological Survey have from time to time 
contained recommendations with reference to var- 
ious methods and types of controlling works. To 
all of these the present Commission has given min- 
ute study and after giving due weight to the good 
features of each is firm in the belief that the erec- 
tion of controlling works at Mountian View, in- 
volving the flooding of the Pompton Basin, consti- 
tutes the best, most economical and most expedi- 
ent method for the solution of the problems pre- 
sented. The several reasons for this decision will 
appear in connection with various discussions in the 
following pages. 

The cost of the proposed improvement, including 
the value of lands condemned, buildings and other 
improvements now erected or maintained within 
the basin, will be three million eight hundred and 
fifty thousand dollars ($3,850,000). The estimates 
entering into this total have been the subject of 
careful and deliberate analysis and the problem has 
been approached from many different directions 
and with due consideration for all the factors of 
expense entering into a faithful estimate of cost. 
In order that the estimate shall be safe an unusu- 
ally large factor has been used for engineering, 
contingencies, etc. 



12 Report of Flood Commission 

Of no less importance than the engineering con- 
siderations are the estimates of benefits that will ac- 
crue as a result of the erection of the structure 
here recommended. However efficient a proposed 
structure may prove to be, the real test of practi- 
cability depends upon the benefits derived from the 
construction. If such benefits are not greater than 
or at least equal to the cost of the improvement, 
the project will in no wise be feasible. In order 
that such benefits might be determined with the 
highest degree of accuracy and to induce the 
greatest confidence in the results the Commission 
has delegated the assessment to a board of four as- 
sessors consisting of persons residing in the vari- 
ous sub-districts into which the flood district was 
divided. The members of this board possess an 
intimate knowledge of property values in their 
sub-districts. The results of the investiga- 
tions of this board of assessors establish unques- 
tionably the fact that the benefits to lands and 
property and to municipalities and counties will be 
far in excess of the cost of the proposed works 
and therefore the project is entirely feasible from 
the standpoint of public economy and much to be 
desired under the present impending conditions of 
disaster. 

There is a third problem not specifically im- 
posed upon this Commission, yet naturally in- 
volved by considerations of public exigency and 
the anticipation of future needs. The Commis- 
sion fully appreciates that the duty prescribed is 
confined to the preparation of plans and estimates 



Report of Flood Commission 13 



for flood regulation; yet, it would deem itself 
improvident did it not take into consideration pub- 
lic demands of a similar nature, either present or 
future, and so direct its work as to provide for the 
satisfaction of such demands whenever they shall 
become sufficiently urgent. 

Every one who has given the matter attention 
must appreciate the fact that in the very near fut- 
ure additional water supplies must be provided for 
the rapidly growing municipalities in or adjacent to 
the drainage area of thePassaic river. This stream is 
for the most part the logical source of such sup- 
plies and at the present time its low water flow 
does not greatly exceed the demands. To satisfy 
future needs storage must be provided to retain 
the flood waters that are now wasted so that they 
can be used for municipal supply. At presen t this 
necessity may not be urgent, yet so certainly will 
demands arise in the near future that the wisest 
plans for flood regulation are those that will admit 
of extension so that such storage can be secured at 
a minimum expense. The problems of flood reg- 
ulation and water conservation in the Passaic 
drainage area cannot wisely be considered separ- 
ately. The one must be the forerunner of the 
other. 

This Commission urges at the present time en- 
abling legislation that will provide for the imme- 
diate construction of a structure for flood protec- 
tion. It believes that in the present state of 
public opinion, and by reason of the diversified 
interests that would be involved in the adjustment 



14 Report of Flood Commission 

of difficulties, the consideration of water conserva- 
tion for municipal purposes should be postponed. 
Under the most favorable circumstances, a long 
period of time would be consumed in securing 
proper public support and satisfying all interests, 
during which period the lower Passaic Valley- 
must remain unprotected from floods. It is there- 
fore believed far better to proceed at once with 
flood protection measures and, in the erection of 
the necessary regulating works, place them on so 
permanent a basis and make them of such a char- 
acter that whenever the matter of water conserv- 
ation becomes insistent and the various interests 
are united in a common agreement the regulating 
works can be readily extended at a relatively 
nominal cost to provide for water storage. It may 
be said in passing that such extension of the works 
now recommended by the Commission will provide 
an enormous storage capacity at an expense con- 
siderably less than any equivalent storage project 
yet erected upon the American continent. Com- 
parative figures will be given under an appropriate 
chapter ; for the present, let it be said that to fail 
to take advantage of these great storage possibili- 
ties at the earliest date will constitute a lamenta- 
ble example of public improvidence. The imme- 
diate construction of flood regulating works would 
make it necessary to secure nearly all the property 
necessary for storage. Some day the demand for 
this storage will be absolute. On that day the 
property values will be at least manifold the 
present values. 



Report of Flood Commission 15 

POMPTON RESERVOIR. 

The engineering work preparatory to the recom- 
mendation for the construction of this reservoir 
has been performed under the direction of the En- 
gineering Committee of this Commission by- 
Charles S. Gowen, Consulting Engineer, assisted 
by a competent staff. Mr. Gowen was for a long 
term of years in charge of similar investigations 
and subsequent construction of the Croton and 
other dams for the New York Aqueduct Commis- 
sion, and is, therefore, an authority on matters of 
this character. His report, which constitutes an 
appendix to this document, contains a detailed 
statement of the engineering features of the pro- 
posed flood regulating works, together with esti- 
mates of costs. These detailed estimates and 
statements will not be repeated in this part of the 
report but it is desired here to point out and dis- 
cuss certain facts and premises that have led this 
Commission to make the recommendations above 
reported. 

First. — If the flood waters of Pompton river are 
withheld behind the regulating works at Mountain 
View a flood of greater size than can be accommo- 
dated in the channel of the river will never de- 
scend upon the lower valley. This is a matter 
that was carefully worked out by the engineers of 
the Northern New Jersey Flood Commission, and 
the Consulting Engineer of the present Commis- 
sion has arrived at the same conclusion after mak- 
ing independent calculations and observations. 



16 Report of Flood Commission 

Careful surveys have shown that if the channel 
passing through the cities situated in the lower 
valley is maintained with reasonable care, and va- 
rious obstructions removed, a flow of from twelve 
to fourteen thousand cubic feet per second may be 
accommodated. It has been shown by the calcula- 
tions above mentioned that with the flow of the 
Pompton withheld this amount of water is the 
maximum that may be expected during floods 
of magnitude considerably greater than that of 
October, 1903. 

Second.— The erection of regulating works at 
Mountain View will improve conditions upon the 
Great Piece Meadow. It has been noted in var- 
ious reports on the subject that the Pompton River 
is a far more torrential stream than the Upper Pas- 
saic or its tributaries, the Rockaway and the 
Whippany. Floods descending from the Pompton 
cause the accumulation of more water between 
Little Falls and Two Bridges than can be readily 
discharged, the result being that the flow from 
the Upper Passaic, Rockaway and Whippany is 
accumulated upon Great Piece Meadow in a man- 
ner similar to that which would occur if a dam 
were constructed across the river at Two Bridges, 
and it has been observed at certain times that a 
part of the flood water descending the Pompton is 
actually diverted up stream over the Great Piece 
Meadow. It is therefore apparent that the flow 
of this river is largely responsible for the high 
floods on the Meadow and were it withheld a large 
part of the area now covered during these high 



Report of Flood Commission 17 

flood periods would be dry. There is another 
feature of pecuHar importance. It is true that 
even with the flow of the Pompton withheld a cer- 
tain portion of the Great Piece Meadow would be 
inundated by the run-off from the Upper Passaic 
and the Rockaway and Whippany. This area 
would, however, be comparatively small, and more- 
over, with the obstruction caused by the flow of the 
Pompton removed, it would drain off more quickly. 
In other words, we would have here not only a 
condition of flood relief over a large portion of 
the meadow, but a condition under which the por- 
tion inevitably flooded would be readily drained. 
The importance of this will appear to the owners 
of this flooded property who have during past 
years attempted to use it for agricultural purposes. 
It is well known that there is probably no more 
fertile soil in the state of New Jersey than that in 
the Great Piece Meadow. At a meeting held 
three years ago by the Northern New Jersey Flood 
Commission some of the persons owning property 
in the Meadow stated that it was impossible to use 
a great part of the land for agricultural purposes 
because the land being so long inundated entered 
into a condition locally designated as " sour ". It 
was further stated that mere flooding could not 
produce such a condition, but it is due to the fact 
that the waters remain for so long a time upon the 
meadow. If the water could be quickly removed 
from the surface the land could be reclaimed for 
agricultural purposes. This being the case, it ap- 



18 Report of Flood Commission 

pears that the benefits of the proposed flood regu- 
lating works to the Great Piece Meadow are two- 
fold. 
Third.— There is a large area of the Pompton 

basin of little value. This part is a low empty- 
region without possibilities of economical drainage ; 
therefore, while there are considerable areas of 
great value for agricultural purposes, the average 
damage involved by the construction of the regu- 
lating works, so far as land values are concerned, 
will be reasonably low. 

The probable cost involved by the acquisition of 
the lands necessary for the reservoir together with 
the improvements thereon has been determined by 
Mr. G. W. Sherman, a real estate expert residing 
at Little Falls, New Jersey. Mr. Sherman was 
employed because it was found after investigation 
that he was by far the best informed person upon 
the subject of realty values in that region. He 
has made a large number of sales for clients own- 
ing property in the proposed basin and has upon 
his books for sale at stated prices a large propor- 
tion of the entire area involved. He was furnished 
with plots of the entire area by the Consulting En- 
gineer of this Commission and appraised succes- 
sive portions in a thorough and painstaking man- 
ner, drawing partly upon his intimate knowledge 
of realty values but principally upon the results of 
previous sales and upon the valuations that the 
property owners themselves had placed upon his 
books. The result of this estimate of damage is, 
therefore, not the usual blanket appraisal, but an 



Report of Flood ^Commission 19 

appraisal of individual units or blocks. The value 
of buildings and other improvements is included. 
The total amount of this appraisement is two mil- 
lion, one hundred fifty-four thousand, four hun- 
dred and sixty dollars ($2,154,260). 

The following is the resume of the estimates of 



Mr. Sherman : 






Number of 


Price per 


Valuation. 


Acres. 


Acre. 




860 


$5 00 


$4,300 00 


425 


7 00 


2,975 00 


217 


10 00 


2,170 00 


915 


15 00 


13,725 00 


459 


20 00 


9,180 00 


1,365 


25 00 


34,125 00 


763 


30 00 


22,890 00 


82 


35 00 


1,120 00 


100 


40 00 


4,000 00 


2,480 


50 00 


124,000 00 


350 


68 00 


23,800 00 


60 


70 00 


4,200 00 


609 


75 00 


45,675 00 


155 


80 00 


12,400 00 


947 


100 00 


94,700 00 


612 


150 00 


91,800 00 


175 


200 00 


35,000 00 


10,524 acres 


$526,060 00 


542 buildings 




1,628,200 00 


Total ADDrais 


jement 


. $2,154,260 00 



In addition to this estimate, a check has been 
made upon Mr. Sherman's figures by the consult- 
ing engineer, by taking the values set by Mr. 
Sherman for the different kinds of property in 



20 Report of Flood Commission 

their respective locations which gave a total 
amount approximately the same as that estimated 
by Mr. Sherman. This figure has been included, 
with proper allowances for costs of condemnation 
and adjustment, in the estimate of total costs in 
the report of the consulting engineer. 

Fourth.— It will be noted that the Consulting 
Engineer has provided in his report for the erec- 
tion of an earthen dam with broad base, flat side 
slopes and a stable masonry core wall. The stability 
of the proposed structure cannot be questioned. It 
is a type of dam that has been proved in almost 
numberless cases the world over, and in the opinion 
of many of our most reputable engineers is a type 
superior to that of a masonry dam for locations 
of this character. It may be noted in passing that 
the dams at the storage reservoirs of the Newark 
water supply are of this type, as well as others in 
the Croton supply of New York City and the Sud- 
bury supply of Boston. There are certain import- 
ant engineering reasons why a masonry dam 
would not be a wise provision in this case. 

Fifth. — In the report of the Consulting Engineer 
there is a full discussion of the engineering features 
of the reservoir to be provided for flood regulation 
with maximum flowage height at elevation 203 
above sea level, and supplementary thereto a dis- 
cussion of the same features with the maximum 
flowage at 220. It will be noted that the dam, 
headworks and spillway are so arranged that in 
case it is decided by the people of the State 
or District to use the reservoir for storage 



Report of Flood Commission 21 

purpose at any time in the future, the additional 
reservoir capacity needed can be afforded by in- 
creasing the height of the dam and spillway. With 
overflow at 220 feet above sea level the capacity 
afforded in excess of that needed for flood protect- 
ion will be 7,500,000,000 cubic feet or 55,000,- 
000,000 gallons. This will afford sufficient capa- 
city to provide for a daily draft of 50,000,000 
gallons which can be allowed to pass down the 
river to maintain the normal flow, in addition to a 
supply of 200,000,000 gallons per day at a 
price so cheap that to allow the project to go 
by default would be the climax of public stupidity. 
Consider for a monent the prices paid in other 
places for water storage. 

Yield Cost 
million per 
gallons million 
City. Supply. per day. gallons. 

Newark, N. J., Pequannock 50 $ 80,000 00 

Jersey City, N. J., Rockaway 50 100,000 00 

New York, N. Y., Croton 180 194,000 00 

Boston, Mass., Nashua 240 48,000 00 

Boston, Mass., Sudbury 40 40,000 00 

New York, N. Y., Proposed Catskill500 127,000 00 

Proposed Reservoir, Pompton 200 37,000 00 

The statement of comparative costs above pre- 
sented is all sufficient and no special pleading is 
required in support of the Pompton storage reser- 
voir. 

Sixth. — The Morris Canal crosses the proposed 
dam site and traverses the edge of the proposed 
reservoir for a distance of about four miles. Un- 



22 Report of Flood Commission 

less the canal is abandoned it will in the erection 
of flood controlling works be a source of useless 
expense. The Commission hopes that the efforts 
that have been made during past years to adjust 
this matter will be successful. In such an event 
there would be saved to the flood district the sum 
of $60,000.00 in the erection of flood prevention 
works and in case of construction of a storage res- 
ervoir there would be saved to those upon whom 
the burden would fall, the sum of $127,000.00. In 
order that this may be fully understood it will be 
necessary to discuss in some detail certain features 
involved in the maintenance and operation of the 

proposed works. 

The Pompton reservoir, as planned for flood 
regulation alone, will have a capacity equivalent 
to a run-off of eight and one-half inches (Si) on 
the watershed above the proposed dam. This 
represents a flood somewhat greater than that of 
October, 1903. Now, in order that the entire 
amount of water arising from such a flood shall be 
held behind the dam, it will be necessary to keep 
the reservoir empty at all times except when 
floods are descending. In other words, the pro- 
posed flood regulating reservoir will contain only 
enough water to hold back the greatest flood that 
may ever be expected on Pompton river. After 
the flood in the remainder of the Passaic basin has 
subsided it will be necessary to empty this reser- 
voir, as fast as the channel capacity of the lower 
valley will permit, so that the reservoir will be 
ready to hold back another flood. No one can 



Report of Flood Commission 23 

predict when another such flood will occur, and 
therefore it will be necessary to have the reservoir 
in readiness at all times. It follows that there 
may be many consecutive months during which 
the reservoir will be dry and practically in its 
present condition, except that the population now 
occupying the site will be removed. 

When, however, the dam is raised to provide for 
water storage the basin will be flooded at all 
times. It should not be forgotten that in case of 
such a development, a capacity for flood storage 
must still be reserved. The stored waters must be 
retained at such a level that there will still be in 
the reservoir sufficient space to hold a maximum 
flood. Expressed in another way, the above state- 
ment means that while the basin is used for flood 
regulating purposes only, the water will be tem- 
porarily stored in the bottom of the basin, but if 
the works are developed for water conservation 
the flood waters must be temporarily stored in the 
top of the basin, sufficient capacity being reserved 
therefor. 

Returning now to the consideration of the Morris 
Canal ; with works constructed for flood regulation 
only, the canal traversing the proposed basin can 
be used as at present, except during the flood 
periods. This will not deprive the canal company 
of any of the privileges it now enjoys. Under 
present conditions the canal is out of commission 
during high floods and cannot be used. The erec- 
tion of regulating works will not cause an appre- 
ciable lengthening of this idle period. Further- 



24 Report of Flood Commission 

more, there will be a decided advantage to the 
canal embankments arising from the erection of 
such works. At the present time the floods that 
inundate certain portions of the canal property are 
torrential in character and said property is subject 
to damage by destruction by the force of such tor- 
rents. With the regulating dam erected, the first 
and least destructive portion of the flood will 
rapidly form a pool behind the dam, which will act 
g,s a cushion against which the later torrent will ex- 
pend its force. The rapidly accumulating waters 
will form a more and more extensive cushion, 
pushing the lowest point of flood torrent con- 
stantly farther away from the dam and from the 
canal property. The result will be that said prop- 
erty will be submerged by quietly rising water in- 
stead of a swiftly moving torrent. After the 
flood is over and the accumulated water is allowed 
to escape through the sluice gates, the canal prop- 
erty above the dam will be intact and ready for 
operation. 

The report of the Consulting Engineer provides 
for the erection of an inclined plane upon which 
boats may be carried over the dam, the power to 
operate this plane to be secured by the installation 
of a water wheel in connection with the reservoir 
outlet. This feature of the project will cost 
$60,000.00. 

When, on the other hand, the basin is developed 
for water storage the canal property will be con- 
stantly inundated and no such provision as that 
above described will suffice. If the canal is main- 



Report of Flood Commission 25 

tained it will be necessary to excavate a new 
channel about four miles long running parallel to 
the new location of the Delaware, Lackawanna and 
Western Railroad, as shown on the map, and join- 
ing the present canal at the inclined plane near 
Towaco where it will always be free from inunda- 
tion. The cost of this will be $127,000.00. 

It is hoped that the canal matters will be ad- 
justed so that this useless expense may not be 
necessary ; nevertheless, the estimates given in 
this report are based upon the assumption that 
there will be perpetual maintenance of the canal. 

Seventh.— The Commission is of the opinion that 
for several reasons the proposed relocation of the 
railroads will be of advantage to those properties. 
First and foremost, it will relieve the roads, espec- 
ially the New York and Greenwood Lake branch of 
the Erie Railroad, from flood damage arising from 
destruction of property and suspension of service. 
Second, it will abolish the grade crossing of the 
Greenwood Lake and Delaware, Lackawanna and 
Western Railroads ; this is an improvement of the 
highest consequence wherever accomplished. 
Third, it will abolish several dangerous highway 
and railroad grade crossings and in their place 
substitute a smaller number of others to which the 
approaches will be much safer than those now in- 
stalled. Fourth, the grade crossings of the canal 
and the Greenwood Lake Railroad will be abol- 
ished. Fifth, in the case of development for 
water storage the grade crossing of the canal 
feeder and the Delaware, Lackawanna and West- 



26 Report of Flood Commission 

ern Railroad will be abolished ; in the case of de- 
velopment for flood protection a grade crossing 
of the canal and railroad would be necessary, re- 
placing the grade crossing of the feeder now 

maintained. 

From all points of view, the proposed new loca- 
tion of the Greenwood Lake Railroad will be su- 
perior to that now occupied, while in the case of 
the Lackawanna Railroad the only change that 
could, by any possible interpretation, be considered 
of disadvantage will be the substitution of the long 
easy curves through Lincoln Park notch, for the 
present tangent in that vicinity. The changes 
proposed in the right of way of the New York, 
Susquehanna and Western Railroad are not in- 
volved in the scheme for flood regulation, as they 
will be necessary only in case of development for 
water storage. The changes necessary in such are 
discussed in the report of the Consulting Engi- 
neer. 

Newark Water Supply Pipe Line. — With the dam 
raised to elevation 220 above sea level, to provide 
for water storage, one of the chief items of ex- 
pense will be the relocation of the Newark water 
supply pipes that cross the basin. With provision 
for flood regulation alone, this will not be neces- 
sary and the only expense involved will be that of 
special protection at exposed points. It should be 
remembered in this connection that under the pres- 
ent conditions this pipe line is submerged for con- 
siderable distances at times of flood and the plans 
here provided will not lengthen this period of sub- 



Report of Flood Commission 27 

mergence by any important amount. Note should 
also be made of the fact that during floods occur- 
ring under the present conditions that part of the 
line crossing Pompton River and the sections im- 
mediately adjacent thereto are subject to the ef- 
fects of torrential flow in the river during floods. 
This will not be the case after the dam is erected. 
The pondage back of the dam, accumulated during 
the earlier part of the floods, will serve as a cushion 
to protect the pipe from torrential flow in the 
same manner described in a previous paragraph 
dealing with canal property. 

Maintenance. — The act quoted at the beginning 
of this report requires this Commission to formu- 
late and propose a plan for maintenance. This re- 
quirement extends only to the flood prevention 
works. The total expense for maintenance, in- 
cluding a liberal allowance for repairs and mater- 
ials will be ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per year. 
The items entering into this total are : 
Maintenance of highways, 8 miles at 

$250 $2,000.00 

Two watchmen, at $720 1,440.00 

One superintendent 1,200.00 

Five laborers, at $600 3,000.00 

Supplies and materials 1,360.00 

Engineering and Contingencies 1,000.00 

Total $10,000.00 

An income considerably in excess of that re- 
quired for maintenance can be secured from ren- 
tal of lands within the basin for pasturage and 
agricultural purposes. 



28 Report of Flood Commission 

As explained in a previous paragraph the reser- 
voir will be empty at all times except during and 
immediately after floods. There will be 8,000 acres 
in the basin, at least three-quarters of which could 
be used for pasturage with safety and a smaller 
proportion of which could be cultivated without 
great risk of crop loss. Of the twenty-eight floods 
that have occurred in the Pompton Valley since 
1877, only four have occurred in the growing or 
harvest season. These floods occurred September 
25, 1882, August 3, 1899, September 19, 1899, and 
May 8, 1893. Only two of these floods, those 
of September 25, 1882, and September 21, 
1888, were of size sufficient to flood the 
upper lands in the proposed basin. Of the twenty- 
eight floods occurring since 1877, only nine have 
occurred within the extreme limits of pasturage 
season. Floods usually occur in the late fall, win- 
ter or early spring. There would, indeed, be a risk 
in planting crops in the basin, yet it is fair to 
state that over a great portion of the area the risk 
would be no greater than it is at present. Summer 
floods over the Pompton Plains will destroy a large 
acreage of crops, whether the dam is or is not con- 
structed ; yet, no one would claim that these lands 
possess no rental value to-day. The higher por- 
tions of the basin would be practically immune 
from summer floods even with the dam in opera- 
tion ; the principal usefulness of these lands for 
flood regulation is confined to late fall, winter and 
early spring. Admitting, however, that there is a 
risk, let such risk be met by a low rental. There 



Report of Flood Commission 29 

are at least six thousand acres in the basin, the 
rental of which, risks considered, will average up 
to two dollars ($2.00) per acre per year at the 
lowest estimate. There is every good reason to 
believe that none of the fertile land in the Pompton 
Basin would be allowed to lie idle at such a price. 
If the crop risks in some locations were considered 
too great, values for pasturage would still remain. 
It is therefore recommended that authority be 
granted to rent these lands, which at the above esti- 
mate will provide an annual income of $12,000.00, 
and that the surplus over that required for main- 
tenance be deposited as a sinking fund for unfore- 
seen expenses, repairs, improvements, or for such 
other expenditures as may be authorized by legis- 
lative authority. 

Assessment of Benefits. — The requirements of 
the legislative act commanding this report involve : 
1st, an assessment of special benefits to real prop- 
erty within the area subject to floods, arising from 
the construction of the proposed regulating works, 
said benefits to be represented upon suitable maps, 
divided into blocks of convenient size, designated 
by well defined boundaries, natural or otherwise ; 
2nd, an assessment of benefits that will accrue by 
reason of said works to counties and municipalities 
lying within the Passaic River Flood District. 

In considering the proper basis for arriving at 
an equitable assessment of benefits the Commission 
has given extended study to the measures of bene- 
fit properly entering into an estimate. These will 
be reviewed briefly in order that the point of 



30 Report of Flood Commission 

view taken by the Commission may be clearly ap- 
preciated. The most concise factor entering into 
an estimate of benefits to be derived from flood 
protection works is the amount of damage wrought 
by one or more floods upon real and personal prop- 
erty. In the flood of October, 1903, the total 
damage was $7,000,000 while in the flood of March, 
1902, the damage was about $3,000,000. Such 
damage is by no means confined to the destruc- 
tion of buildings and other improvements that 
may be restored by the expenditure of a certain 
amount of money. It extends to^the value of the 
property itself, whether said property is improved 
and put to a useful purpose or whether it is va- 
cant land producing no income. It is essentially a 
question of depreciation of values, and the prin- 
ciple may be best stated by a few citations of 
actual conditions as follows : 

1st. A property improved for and devoted to 
manufacturing produces a certain income that re- 
mains stable or fluctuates normally according to 
conditions purely industrial. This property is 
visited by a flood. Leaving out of consideration 
for the moment the loss due to temporary suspen- 
sion of operation and allied losses, what is the 
damage to that property? The Commission be- 
lieves that it is represented by the sum that it is 
necessary to expend upon the repairs before oper- 
ations can be resumed, and in addition to this, by 
the depreciation that must take place in the value 
of that property for manufacturing purposes. A 
repetition of the flood conditions is impending — no 



Report of Flood Commission 31 

one can prophesy when it will come. When it 
comes it will cause another interruption of busi- 
ness, may result in the cancellation of orders, will 
make it necessary to expend more of the legiti- 
mate profits for repairs and this condition gives to 
the whole situation an aspect of unrest and uncer- 
tainty. The wise manufacturer will hesitate or 
refuse to further develop the property to meet op- 
portunities for increased business. In short, the 
site is undesirable and another in a more favored 
location will be secured at the first opportunity. 
If, now, flood regulating works are erected that 
will remove possibility of flood damage an equita- 
ble assessment of such benefits involves considera- 
tion of this feature. 

2d. A dock property used for the delivery of 
commodities for water shipment and the receiving 
of goods from other markets possesses a certain 
value both by reason of the facilities it furnishes 
for convenient transfer and for the temporary 
storage that must always be provided for goods 
during transit. A flood occurring in the river in- 
undates these docks ; commerce is interrupted and 
goods are destroyed. The damage is not confined 
to the interruption of traflfic and the value of the 
goods. It extends to the depreciation involved by 
the uncertainty of safe transportation and the risk 
that is sustained by shippers arising from delay in 
delivery and destruction of shipments. Such a 
damage to the property as a shipping dock is 
measured by the amount of money that it would 
be necessary to expend to raise the dock above 



32 Report of Flood Commission 

highest flood levels, plus the extra expense that 
would be involved by raising and lowering the 
goods the additional distance. The erection of 
flood prevention works, that will make such pro- 
visions unnecessary, must therefore benefit this 
property by an amount equivalent to the cost of 
those provisions. 

3rd. A residential property producing an income 
from rental is visited by a flood. The measure of 
damages is similar to that in the first case. Cer- 
tain repairs will be necessary, but, in addition to 
this, the prospective tenant, who would under more 
favorable circumstances seek this property as a 
place of residence, will be diverted to a more 
favored locality. Being situated in a place sub- 
ject to these conditions the property will cease to 
produce an income. The benefits of flood relief in 
this case are in a large measure represented by the 
enhanced value of the property as a producer of 
income resulting from the removal of flood 
danger. 

4th. There are thousands of acres of vacant 
property along Passaic river, the value of which is 
merely nominal. It is stagnant property that fails 
to partake of the increase in market price so 
noticeable in neighboring localities. The reason 
for this is not that the location is poor or inacces- 
sible but that the property is subject to inundation 
by flood. Obviously the undesirability of this 
property is not the result of physical damage to 
the land itself ; it arises from the fact that this 
land cannot under impending flood conditions 



Report of Flood Commission 33 



serve any highly useful purpose. Value in this 
case, as in every other, depends upon final utility, 
and the benefits accruing by reason of the erection 
of works that will prevent floods must be meas- 
ured by the increase of values that follows en- 
hanced utility. 

The principles above enunciated have been 
used by this Commission and its Board of Asses- 
sors in the report of benefit assessments herein- 
after presented. 

The assessment of county benefits has been 
based largely upon the actual damage wrought by 
the floods of 1902 and 1903, upon county struct- 
ures such as bridges, culverts, roads, etc. This is a 
direct benefit readily computed. 

The assessment of benefits accruing to muni- 
cipalities by reason of the erection of flood regu- 
lating works involves the consideration of many 
factors and is therefore more complex than either 
of the problems above discussed. There is first to be 
considered the damage wrought by floods upon 
municipal public works such as streets, culverts, 
sewers, etc. Among other features there must be 
considered the cost of temporal relief of those in 
distress ; the loss of wages and consequent diminu- 
tion of trade ; the decline in tax ratables ; finally 
and perhaps most important from the municipal 
standpoint is the arrested development that inevi- 
tably occurs in the localities subject to floods. No 
one can state with precision just how important is 
the last feature above mentioned, yet we know 
that no locality subject to disaster is industrially 



34 Report of Flood Commission 

attractive and if such place becomes or remains 
industrially prosperous the development must occur 
in spite of the conditions rather than by reason of 
them. The whole matter is significant from the 
broad standpoint of municipal enterprise and in- 
tegrity. The municipal benefit assessments re- 
ported by the Commission were determined upon 
with the above features in mind. The result is 
conservative. 

For the purposes of assessment of benefits ac- 
cruing from the proposed flood regulating works, 
the area subject to flood damage was divided into 
districts and members of the Board of Assessors 
were assigned to detailed work of assessment in 
the several districts as follows : 

First District— Faterson City, Hawthorne Bor- 
ough and Little Falls ; Mr. Joseph Addy, assessor. 

Second District— Passaic City and Acquacka- 
nonk Township ; Mr. James T. Boyle, assessor. 

Third District— Bergen County ; Mr. Peter A. 
Kuhn, assessor. 

Fourth District— Essex and Hudson Counties ; 
Mr. Joseph A. Connolly and Mr. John B. Morris, 
assessors. 

Before taking up the work, the gentlemen above 
mentioned perfected an organization and discussed 
plans and methods of work, and during the pro- 
gress of the assessment held frequent meetings 
for consultation with reference to unusual or diffi- 
cult features encountered. Finally, the Board re- 
viewed the figures of each of its members and in 



Report of Flood Commission 35 

many cases visited property in the various districts 
for the purpose of making joint appraisals. 

The total estimate of benefits reported by the 
Board of Assessors is $5,128,263.50. Of this 
amount $3,947,763.50 is for property benefits, $365,- 
500 is for municipal and $815,000 for county bene- 
fits. 

A detailed statement of the assessment, together 
with the location of the blocks being shown upon 
maps Nos. 14 to 17, inclusive, is appended to this 
report. 

The final acts at this time demanded of this 
Commission are the proposal of a plan for raising 
the money necessary to meet the expenditures to 
be incurred by the Commissioners in the purchase 
of lands and property, and the construction, oper- 
ation and maintenance of flood prevention works ; 
also the reporting of a bill or act to carry the plan 
and method adopted into execution. Accordingly 
it is proposed that the erection of flood regulating 
works, the purchase of property, the assessment of 
benefits and all matters pertaining to the adminis- 
tration of these affairs shall proceed in accordance 
with the terms of a bill appended hereto as a part 
of this report and hereby proposed for enactment. 
All of which is respectfully submitted. 
The Passaic River Flood District Commission : 
Richard Morrell, President. 
Franklin Van Winkle, 
John M. Bell, 
Marshall 0. Leighton, 
Morris R. Sherrerd. 
Attest : William L. Dill, Clerk. 
December 1st, 1906. 



36 Report of Flood Commission 

LIST OF MAPS AND DRAWINGS ACCOMPANY- 
ING THIS REPORT. 

Plate 1. Proposed Dam at Mountain View, Plan of 
Dam, H. W. Elev. 220. 

Plate 2. Proposed Dam at Mountain View, Eleva- 
tion of Dam looking up stream. 

Plate 3. Proposed Dam at Mountain View, Sections 
of Embankment and overflow of Dam. 

Plate 4. Proposed Dam at Mountain View, Sections 
of Gate house of Dam. 

Plate 5. Proposed Dam at Mountain View, Profiles 
showing borings at Mountain View Dam 
site. 

Plate 6. Proposed Reservoir at Mountain View, 
Plan, H. W. Elev. 220. 

Plate 7. Proposed Reservoir at Mountain View, 
Plan, H. W. Elev. 203. 

Plate 8. Plan Proposed relocation D., L. & W. R. 
R. & M. & E. Canal, H. W. Elev. 220. 

Plate 9. Plan Proposed relocation Erie R. R., H. 
W. Elevs. 203 & 220. 

Plate 10. Profile Proposed relocation D., L. & W. R. 
R., H. W. Elev. 220. 

Plate 11. Profile Proposed relocation Erie R. R., H. 
W. Elevs. 203 & 220. 

Plate 12. Profile Proposed change of Grade, N. Y. 
S. & W. R. R., H. W. Elev. 220. 

Plate 13. Proposed Reservoir at Mountain View. 
Plan showing division by blocks for ap- 
praisal. 



Report of Flood Commission 37 

Plate 14. District between Paterson and Little 
Falls, showing block numbers in assessor's 
report. 

Plate 15. Paterson and Hawthorne Borough, show- 
ing block numbers in assessor's report. 

Plate 16. Part of Passaic and Bergen Counties, 
showing block numbers in assessor's re- 
port. 

Plate 17. Part of Essex and Hudson Counties, show- 
ing block numbers in assessor's report. 



REPORT OF ENGINEER. 



REPORT OF ENGINEER. 

To the Passaic River Flood District Commission : 
Sirs: 

The writer was retained as Consulting Engineer 
by the Passaic River Flood District Commission 
about June 1st, of this year, and in accordance 
w^ith the commission's instructions began an inves- 
tigation early in the month, of the question of the 
flood control of the Passaic river. It was outlined 
in the report of your predecessors, the Northern 
New Jersey Flood Commission, upon the flood of 
1903, that the project of flood control, together 
with a plan of conservation by which a large pro- 
portion of the flow of the Passaic could be re- 
tained and diverted to special purposes might be 
made constituent parts of a single plan and this 
season's investigation has been made largely with 
a view to demonstrate the feasibility and cost of 
such a scheme. 

The essential features of this plan comprise a 
dam at Mountain View across the Pompton river 
in the valley between the abutting hills of the 
Hook mountain range or dyke ; the conse- 
quent flooding of the valley above in which 
are situated the villages of Pompton Plains, 
Pompton, Pequannock, Wayne, etc. ; the change 
of location of the Delaware, Lackawanna 
and Western railroad for a distance of sev- 
eral miles and the Greenwood Lake branch 
of the Erie railroad and the New York, Sus- 
quehanna and Western railroad for considera- 
bly greater distances. Also the possible rebuilding 
of a part of the Morris canal, and many changes in 
highways and such structures as would be affected 
by the impounded water. 

41 



42 Report of Flood Commission 

If this proposed dam is built of moderate height 
to Elev. 203 it will have sufficient impounding 
capacity to hold back the flow of the Pompton or 
northern branch of the Passaic in the time of 
greatest freshets, until the flow of the southerly 
branch of the river has subsided, when the Pomp- 
ton basin can be emptied at leisure. With the 
Pompton flow thus temporarily retained it -has 
been calculated that the extreme flow of the 
southerly branch will not be greater than the 
proper capacity of the river at Little Falls and 
through the city of Paterson and the valley below, 
and the writer in reviewing these results which are 
from the analysis of the flow of the 1903 flood, 
made by the engineers of the Flood Cojjimission is 
convinced that the results obtaiaeti'are reliable and 
conservative and that the maximum flood flow to 
be expected from the southerly branch of the Pas- 
saic under the above conditions would be less 
rather than above 14,000 cubic feet per second, 
which is the amount stated. The maximum flow 
being restricted to this amount, the valley of the 
Passaic can thus be saved from future flooding be- 
low Little Falls. 

In this connection attention is called to the ob- 
structions existing at Paterson and at other points 
along the river below Little Falls due to the gen- 
eral encroachment by property owners and mu- 
nicipalities upon the river channel'," and" the "conse- 
quent inability of the channel to accommodate its 
proper normal flood flow at certain points. 

This condition was dwelt upon at length in tjie 
report of the Northern New Jersey Floo^-^^fmn- 
mission upon the 1903 flood and is recalled here as 
its amelioration is essential to the proper develop- 



Report of Engineer 



43 



ment and completion of the proposed plan for flood 
protection. 

If the proposed dam is so built as to raise the 
water on the Pompton side of the water shed to 
Elev. 220, its impounding capacity is about doubled 
and the contents of such basin below Elev. 203 
can be made available for domestic or manufactur- 
ing purposes, due regard being of course given to 
the rights of interested parties below in the valley, 
while that part of the basin above Elev. 203 can 
be used to store the flood flows whenever neces- 
sary. 

The capacity of this projected basin was deter- 
mined by the Northern New Jersey Flood Commis- 
sion in the investigation of the 1903 flood and the 
results have been checked in this season's investi- 
gation. 



TABLE OF CAPACITY OF POMPTON BASIN WITH DAM 
BUILT AT MOUNTAIN VIEW. 



Contour 



170 
180 
190 
200 
203 
210 
220 



Capacity 
Between 
Contours. 
Millions of 
Cubic Ft. 

1,005 

2,221 

3,222 

1,139 

2,786 

4,534 



Total Capacity. 
Millions of 
Cubic Feet. 



93 

1,098 
3,319 
6,541 
7,680 
10,466 
15,000 



Capacity in 
Inches. Col- 
lected from 
Watershed. 

.01 
1.11 
3.64 
7.30 

8.63 
11.74 
16.88 
that was de- 



This is practically the same table 
termined in the report of 1903. 
The writer in checking it caused special cross 



44 Report of Flood Commission 

sections to be made of the basin and the results 
confirmed the seasonable accuracy of the table. 

As to actual operations of this investigation; 
surveys were undertaken early in June. 

1st. To locate the flow line at Elev. 220 and to 
ascertain the flowage area at this elevation and 
the alternate elevation 203. 

The resulting computed flowage area is as fol- 
lows: 

To Elev. 203 8500 acres. 

To Elev. 220 11200 acres. 

2nd. To determine the new locations necessary 
for the railroads, highways and canal and the cost 
of same. 

Brd. To determine the type of dam to be recom- 
mended and its cost under either or both the condi- 
tions which might be determined as f eaisble or de- 
sirable. 

In this connection arrangements were made to 
have borings made at the proposed Mountain 
View dam site early in July and 25 holes were put 
down through the overlying strata to and into the 
rock. These holes were located mainly in four 
lines which crossed the valley practically between 
the points at which the rock outcropped on either 
side. These lines of holes were about 250 feet 
apart. The borings showed as is often the case at 
similar points that the bed rock lies at a consider- 
able distance below the general surface of the val- 
ley bottom, the extreme depth in the lower line of 
holes showing 145 feet and no rock. The holes in 
the lines above indicate a general rise in the rock 
surface as well as a narrowing of the outline of the 
rock gorge at its lower levels and the greatest 
depth to rock shown on the upper line is 84 feet 
below the surface. 

Above and next the rock in its lower levels lies 



Report of Engineer 45 

a thin stratum of mixed gravel and sand which at 
its lowest points is water bearing. This water 
rose in the casting pipes as these deep points were 
reached to somewhat varying elevations, the high- 
est of which was Elev. 178, or about 19 feet above 
the ordinary level of the water in the Pompton at 
this point. Above this gravel layer was a compara- 
tively thin stratum of sand, over which was found 
a bed of blue clay varying in thickness from 90 feet 
to about 50 feet and reaching to within 15 feet of the 
general surface of the valley and practically to the 
level of the bed of the river at the point where it 
crosses these lines of borings. Above the clay is 
sand. This clay bed is of considerable extent, 
reaching for distances up and down the valley from 
Mountain View and it furnishes material for sev- 
eral brick yards in the vicinity. As noted above 
the upper line of soundings indicates a sensible rise 
in the elevation of the bed rock as well as a nar- 
rowing of the area of the greatest depth to the 
rock, as compared with the indications at the lower 
lines and the proposed location of the dam has 
been made along the upper lines accordingly. 

A plan and profile showing these soundings ac- 
company this report. (See Plates 1 and 5.) 

THE DAM. 

The above conditions suggest a dam of the em- 
bankment, core wall type, the core wall to be car- 
ried to the bed rock, until the depth below the sur- 
face becomes unnecessarily great, when the wall is 
to be carried on the bed of clay. On the location 
determined, the maximum depth below the surface 
of the core wall base on rock as planned is about 
40 feet, and the distance through which the wall is 
to be carried on the clay is about 950 feet. In 



46 Report of Flood Commission 

this connection it may be well to say that while the 
upper lines of soundings indicate a more favorable 
condition of affairs, so far as the bed rock and 
overlying strata are concerned than was shown by 
the first boring made on the lower lines, it is quite 
possible that further soundings made closer to- 
gether and perhaps extending to a somewhat 
greater distance up stream, may indicate still more 
favorable conditions as well as a better defined 
location for the dam foundations. 

The estimates of the cost of construction of this 
dam have been made in accordance with the indi- 
cations along the upper lines of the soundings 
made. 

DAM TO RAISE WATER TO ELEV. 203. 

This dam as proposed and as previously noted, is 
to be an embankment, core-wall dam, with an over- 
flow and an effluent gate house. The dam as 
planned will be about 2,660 feet in length, with an 
overflow 300 feet long. The effluent gate house 
will be 50 feet long. The maximum height of dam 
above general surface of valley to high water mark 
is 38 feet and the thickness of embankment at top, 
Elev. 208 is 20 feet. The slopes of embankment 
where the dam is highest are to be 3-1 and are 
changed to 2 J-1 on a portion of the dam on the up- 
per east slope of the valley where the embankment 
is of reduced height. The maximum height of the 
core wall above rock base is about 80 feet and the 
maximum height of the core wall above clay base 
is about 58 feet. The core wall, overflow, gate 
house, etc., are to be of concrete masonry, with 
exposed portions of the structures faced with ash- 
lar courses of concrete blocks. In the heavier sec- 



Report of Engineer 47 

tions of the masonry structures cyclopean concrete 
will be used. 

The embankment is planned to be made of sand, 
clay and gravel in the section on the up stream 
side of the core wall and will be paved on its water 
surface. The lower slope of the embankment will 
be broken by berms ditched to carry away surface 
water and will be soiled and sodded. 

The effluent gate house will have four chambers 
in each of which is to a 12x6 sluice gate of metal 
with necessary hoisting arrangements, and these 
chambers will be provided with grooves and stop 
planks, so that the interior will be accessible at 
any time for examination or repairs. This gate 
house will be covered by a superstructure of proper 
design and the general design of the dam is such 
as to enable a roadway to be maintained along its 
crest, should it be thought advisable to do so. 

The estimated cost of the dam along these lines 
is $685,180.00. 

DAM TO RAISE WATER TO ELEV. 220. 

As planned, the general design of the features 
of this dam is the same as in case of the lower 
dam and the quality of masonry, embankment and 
other work is the same. 

This dam will be about 3500 feet long. Its 
greatest height up to H. W. 220 above general bot- 
tom of valley is 55 feet and the maximum height 
of core wall on rock base will be about 95 feet. 
The maximum height of core wall on clay base will 
be 75 feet and maximum thickness of core wall at 
its base on clay 20 feet and the distance on which 
the wall is built on clay base about 950 feet. 

The effluent gate house as planned is 80 feet 
long and comprises four chambers in each of 



48 Report of Flood Commission 

which are four 5-foot diameter pipes closed by or- 
dinary sluice valves and guarded by double disc 
valves. Arrangements are made by which through 
grooves in the up-stream chambers, with the 
necessary stop planks etc., either set of gates will 
be accessible at all times for examination and re- 
pairs. With the water in the basin at Elev. 220, 
the lower gates are under a head of nearly 50 feet 
and the upper gates under a head of about 27 feet. 
A gate house superstructure is planned to cover 
the effluent chambers. 

In the case of both dams, it is planned not to 
draw the water in the basin below Elev. 170, al- 
though the lower gate openings might be lowered 
to Elev. 165 without serious difficulty. The gate 
house and overflow structures will have founda- 
tions on the rock. 

The cost of this dam as above planned is esti- 
mated at $1,062,225.00. 

In the case of the above dam the length of core 
wall designed to be built on clay can be carried to 
rock, involving an increased depth of excavation 
for the wall of nearly 70 feet at the lowest point 
of the bed rock as indicated by the borings. Such 
a procedure would enable the embankment slopes 
to be reduced to 2i-l, and in that way reduce the 
expense of the enbankment, while largely increas- 
ing the core-wall expense. The net increase in ex- 
pense involved by such a change would be about 
$95,000.00. 

Plans and elevations, etc., of this dam as above 
described accompany this report. (See Plates 1, 
2, 3 and 4.) 

RAILROAD RELOCATIONS. 
The Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Rail- 



Report of Engineer 49 



road relocation is planned to begin a short distance 
below the station at Mountain View and to follow 
the Great Piece Valley along the south slope of the 
Hook Mountain to the pass leading to Lincoln 
Park and Towaco, through which the line will pass. 
This change in location is about 4.5 miles in length 
and involves heavy work in order to keep gradient 
and alignment within modern limits. 

The cost of this relocation is estimated as 
follows : 

With H. W. Elev. 203 $212,470.00 

With H. W. Elev. 220 216,862.00 

Plan and profile of this change accompany this 
report. (See plates 3 and 10.) 

The change in the location of the Greenwood 
Lake Branch of the Erie Railroad begins near the 
bridge over the Passaic at Singac, extends up the 
valley northeasterly to the Preakness Road at a 
point about 1700 feet east of the east end of the 
proposed dam. In this distance it crosses the 
canal and the D., L. & W. R. R. with overhead 
crossings. From the Preakness Road the new line 
runs along and above the 220-foot contour to its 
head in the brick yard slew so called ; thence 
the line continues north, crossing the divide 
beyond the run and along the slope of the general 
valley to the Ramapo River and from the river 
across the flats above, to its junction with the old 
location above Pompton Junction station. The 
length of this relocation is about 9.1 miles and at 
and above the Ramapo River two locations are 
shown, one for the 203 H. W. Elev. plan, the other 
on somewhat higher ground for the 220 H. W. 
Elev. plan. 

The cost is estimated as follows : 

With H. W. at Elev. 203 $361,558.00 

With H. W. at Elev. 220 414,759.00 



50 Report of Flood Commission 

The change involved in the N. Y., S. & W. R. R. 
is limited to the H. W. Elev. 220 plan and involves 
the raising of the road bed, covering a length of 
about 1.8 miles. The maximum height to which the 
road bed is to be raised is about 15 feet and with 
this is to be raised the bridge at Pompton Junction 

The cost is estimated at $75,687.00. 

Plan and profiles showing the above changes pro- 
posed in the Erie and N. Y., S. & W. R. locations 
accompany this report, (See plates 9, 11 and 12.) 

CANAL CHANGES. 

If the semblance of traffic now existing must be 
continued the relocation and rebuilding of a sec- 
tion of canal about 4 miles long seems inevitable ; 
at any rate in connection with the conservation 
plan with H. W. at Elev. 220. 

Accordingly a new canal line has been located 
and its cost estimated. This location parallels the 
proposed new location of the Delaware, Lackawanna 
and Western R. R. and through this means any 
crossing of the canal by the trunk line is obviated. 
The cost of the new canal is estimated at $127,228.00 
and the expense is great and seems uncalled for 
when the general condition of the canal and its 
business are taken into account. 

The canal problem presents a somewhat different 
phase in connection with the flood protection plan 
with H. W. at Elev. 203. In this case if the water 
above the dam was kept at times of ordinary flow 
at about elevation 175.5 and the tow path from the 
lock below Lincoln Park were raised somewhat and 
the embankments revetted, the canal might be 
maintained and used to the up stream side of the 
dam at times of normal river flow and passing 
boats could be hauled over an incline across the 



Report of Engineer 51 

dam and landed in the canal below near the present 
Mountain View station. The canal under this 
condition below Mountain View would have to be 
fed from the Mountain View dam and a small gate 
chamber in the dam near the location of the pres- 
ent feeder would have to be provided for that pur- 
pose. This plan would seem to involve a steady 
flooding of the basin to a depth somewhat higher 
than might be desirable at times of normal river 
flow but it would furnish facilities to continue 
canal traffic at a minimum expense. On the 
other hand it would involve a grade crossing of the 
D., L. & W. R. R. similar to the one now in exist- 
ence over the canal feeder. 

This plan would of course necessitate the prac- 
tical obliteration of the Pompton feeder which is 
at present used in addition to its function as a 
feeder, as a means of transportation for coal and 
other heavy freight for various business enter- 
prises located along its banks and in its vicinity. 
The demand for such use would, however, seem to 
cease with the inception of the flood protection 
plan and the consequent acquisition of the adjoin- 
ing lands by the state, but the question of the 
rights of the present owners of the canal franchise 
in connection with the feeder would remain to be 
settled although the practical uses of the feeder 
would be conserved through the special gate cham- 
ber in the dam above noted. 

Such a plan, however, of the substitution of 
slack water navigation and an incline over the pro- 
posed dam for the present canal method would 
mean the stopping of canal transportation at 
Mountain View temporarily during the construc- 
tion of the dam as it would be impracticable to 
continue the canal service throughout a great part 
of the time required for that purpose. In addition 



52 Report of Flood Commission 

to this, the constant maintenance of the water 
surface at about Elev. 175.5 involved, might inter- 
fere to some extent with the maintenance of the 
Newark Pipe Line in the vicinity of the crossing 
at Pequannock over the Pompton river and ad- 
joining feeder. 

This will be further mentioned in connection 
with the chapter referring especially to the Pipe 
Line. 

On the whole it would seem that while the plan 
for raising the water in the canal and passing boats 
over the dam is practicable under certain condi- 
tions, it is perhaps questionable as to whether the 
amount of money that can be saved under this plan 
is sufficient to warrant its advocacy and in this con- 
nection the writer has not considered the feasibil- 
ity of the slack water plan in connection with the 
dam designed to raise the water to Elev. 220, on 
account of the continually varying heights of the 
water in the basin that would occur between eleva- 
tions 176 and 203 owing to the uses made of the 
water between those levels. This it v/ould seem 
would make it impracticable to maintain a tow 
path or series of tow paths at diiferent elevations 
such as would be necessary to maintain canal ser- 
vice. 

Estimated cost of canal relocated : 

plan, H. W. Elev. 220 $127,228.00 

Estimated cost of plan to 

cross over H. W. 203 Dam 59,676.00 

Plan showing relocation of canal accompanies 
this report. (See plate 8.) 

HIGHWAYS RELOCATED AND REBUILT. 

The necessary changes in highway location and 
construction due to these plans may be stated as 
follows : 



Report of Engineer 53 

Dam H. W. Elev. 203. 

Highways to be raised 2.8 miles 

New highways to be built 4.4 miles 

Estimated cost ^137,393.00 

Dam H. W. Elev. 220. 

Highways to be raised 6.0 miles 

New highways to be built 7.4 miles 

Estimated cost $458,118.00 

In estimating the cost of these roads the fact 
cannot be forgotten that they replace, in many 
cases, well graded and metalled roads and must, 
therefore, be built thoroughly and well. 

In the design or plans for raising and rebuilding 
these highways it will be noted that the Hamburg- 
Paterson Turnpike crossing the valley of the 
Pompton at the upper end and continuing to and 
beyond the Norton House, and the Schuyler 
Bridge road and its connections involve in the con- 
servation scheme long stretches of heavy and ex- 
pensive work. The same is the case with two 
roads at Towaco crossing the valley at Whitehall 
village. 

The practical obliteration of the so-called Pomp- 
ton Turnpike from Pompton Plains to Mountain 
View is involved as any plan to retain or regrade it 
would seem to be unnecessary^. 

These and the remaining proposed changes in 
the highways which will explain themselves are 
shown on plans accompanying this report. (See 
plates 6 and 7.) 

NEWARK PIPE LINE. 

The Newark Pipe Line, comprising one 42 inches 
and one 48 inches steel pipe, crosses the proposed 
basin diagonally from the N. W. to the S. E. The 
low level H. W. Elev. 203 plan would not involve 



54 Report of Flood Commission 

the flooding of this hne except at intervals and 
then only for short periods. It is difficult to see 
what damage or inconvenience could arise to the 
line from such floods except possibly at a limited 
number of places, one of which is the bridge cross- 
ing over the Pompton near Pequannock, where 
under present conditions it is liable to flooding at 
times. At this point with the dam at Mountain 
View designed to raise the v/ater to Elev. 203, re- 
curring floods would make it necessary to protect 
with paving and by other means the slopes and 
banks adjacent to the bridge abutments and piers 
and if as noted in the chapter on the canal reloca- 
tion the water were kept permanently at elevation 
175.5 it might create interference with a compar- 
atively short stretch of the pipe at this point at 
such times as inspection or repairs were required 
and it might be necessary to raise the pipe through 
the distance above referred to. 

The expense involved is estimated at $42,000.00. 

The plan, Elev. H. W. 220, however, involves a 
new loop line on the outskirts of the proposed basin 
and around its upper end. This location will be 
above the 203 contour and as near the 220 contour 
as is practicable and advantage can be taken in 
the construction of the raised highways and high- 
way bridges in the upper end of the valley to 
carry the pipes over the various stream crossings 
and along the line proposed. This new loop line 
as planned will be about eight miles long. 

The estimated expense of this change in the 
pipe line is $1,176,000.00. 

CLEANING THE BASIN. 

The plan for impounding water necessarily in- 
volves clearing the basin below Elev. 220 of trees 



Report of Engineer 55 

and brush. While some of the timber can be sold 
experience generally indicates in such operations 
that considerable expense must be incurred. The 
buildings could be sold also, although it cannot be 
reckoned that more than enough to pay for clear- 
ing them away and restoring the natural condi- 
tions at their locations would be realized. Assum- 
ing that a considerable portion of the timber is 
marketable and can be sold for lumber, ties and 
cord wood, it is estimated that the resulting cost of 
properly clearing the basin of its woody growth 
will be $44,000.00. 

POSSIBLE BETTERMENTS IN GREAT PIECE 
MEADOWS. 

The regulation of the flows of the Pompton 
river of which the water shed comprises one half 
of the whole water shed of the Passaic and tribu- 
taries above Two Bridges will modify and lessen 
flood heights in Great Piece meadows and will sen- 
sibly diminish their lengths or times of flow. A 
conservative estimate indicates a diminution of 
flood heights to be looked for in this area of nearly 
4 feet in the greatest freshets and it is certainly 
safe to assume that the average length of ordinary 
floods will be materially diminished. This, it is 
evident, must have a beneficial effect on the arable 
lands in the Great Piece district and the resulting 
benefit will be of appreciable value. 

Examinations and computations through the 
Great Piece Meadow district indicate that approxi- 
mately 5,000 acres will be relieved of the menace 
of future floods and their effects, and that in addi- 
tion approximately 5,000 acres lying below the 
areas first noted will be benefitted materially 
through the diminished liability to ordinary spring 
floods. 



56 Report of Flood Commission 

An examination of flood records for a period of 
24 years shows that the average yearly time the 
Passaic is in flood (above its full bank flow) is 
about 30 days. With the flow on the Pompton 
side eliminated this time will be so reduced that 
large tracts of land will be much improved. It 
would seem that the betterments arising from 
such a change as this plan may involve should cer- 
tainly be considered. 

It may be noted that the plans for the drainage 
of the Great Piece Meadows which have been in 
contemplation for years would not be interfered 
with in any way by the building of the Mountain 
View Dam and the consequent change in the re- 
gions of flow of the impounded water on the Pomp- 
ton side. 

LAND DAMAGES. 

A survey of the area of the proposed basin to 
Elev. 220 has been made and an estimate of the 
land damages resulting from the condemnation of 
this property has been made for the areas lying be- 
ow Elev. 220 and Elev. 203, respectively. These 
estimates are based on the valuations of real estate 
in question made by your assessor and the records 
are made of these valuations in blocks, the acre- 
ages of which have been calculated. A map show- 
ing the definition of these blocks as they are located 
below the 220 and 203 contours, respectively, to- 
gether with a table showing the acreages and valua- 
tions of lands and buildings comprised therein, ac- 
companies this report. (See plate 13.) 

The estimated value of land and buildings below 
Elev. 220 is $2,235,220.00. 

The estimated value of land and buildings below 
Elev. 203 is $1,536,210. 



Report of Engineer 57 

These estimates do not include the land values 
and damages that may arise from the removal of 
two cemeteries, one at Pompton Plains and the 
other at Pompton, which are of considerable ex- 
tent. An estimate of the cost of removal of ceme- 
teries and the consequent damage to the present 
owners is as follows : 

Cemeteries below Elev. 220. . . .$70,000.00 
Cemeteries below Elev. 203 45.000.00 

The area of land to be acquired below Elev. 220, 
including existing water surface and land for con- 
struction and working purposes at Mountain View 
is about 11,200 acres. And the area to be acquired 
below Elev. 203 under the same conditions is about 
8,500 acres. 

There is in addition a water power damage 
which will arise in connection with the H. W. 220 
scheme, as the existing water powers at Pompton 
Lake and Oakland will be destroyed and the re- 
establishment of the water power on the Ramapo 
at the Steel Works will be made impossible. 

The damage due to the destruction of these 
water powers may be estimated at $70,000.00. 

Schedules of the estimated cost of the two pro- 
posed schemes are as follows : 



58 Report of Flood Commission 

COST OF ELEV. 203 H. W. SCHEME. 

Dam $ 635,180.00 

Canal, etc 59,676.00 

Highways 137,393.00 

D., L. & W. R. R. relocation 212,470.00 

Erie R. R. relocation 361,558.00 

Newark Pipe Line 42,000.00 

Land, Mountain View Reservoir 1,536,210.00 

Cemeteries 45,000.00 

$3,079,487.00 
25% 769,872.00 



$3,849,359.00 

COST OF ELEV. 220 H. W. SCHEME. 

Dam $1,062,225.00 

Canal 127,228.00 

Highways 458,118.00 

D., L. & W. R. R. relocation 216,862.00 

Erie R. R. relocation 414,759.00 

N. Y., S. & W. R. R. change 75,687.00 

Clearing Basin 44,000.00 

Water Power Damage 70,000.00 

Newark Pipe Line 1,176,000.00 

Land, Mountain View Reservoir 2,235,220.00 

Cemeteries 70,000.00 

$5,950,099.00 
25% 1,487,525.00 



$7,437,624.00 



Report of Engineer 59 

As will be noted 25% has been added to the es- 
timated total cost to cover Engineering, Contin- 
gent and Condemnation expenses. 

Following are the tables showing the estimates 
of cost in detail : 

COST OF DAM AT MOUNTAIN VIEW H. W. 203. 

33,300 cu. yds. concrete masonry at 

$5.50 $183,150.00 

17,900 cu. yds. rock excavation at 

$1.00 17,900.00 

370,000 cu. yds. earth excavation at 

$0.27 99,900.00 

650,500 cu. yds. refilling and embank- 
ment at $0.31 201,655.00 

21,200 cu. yds. soil stripping at $0.30. . 6,360.00 

15,300 cu. yds. slope paving at $2.50. . . 38,250.00 

10,200 cu. yds. broken stone placed at 

$1.00 10,200.00 

6,650 cu. yds. soiling at $0.60 3,990.00 

1,000 sq. yds. sodding at $1.00 1,000.00 

11,300 cu. yds. vertical French exc. at 

$1.00 11,300.00 

1,370 cu. yds. concrete facing blocks 

at $10.00 13,700.00 

15,500 cu. yds. cyclopean concrete 

masonry at $4.25 65,875.00 

8,400 cu. yds. rip rap placed at $1.00. . . 8,400.00 

100 M. F. B. M. timber sheeting placed 

at $35.00 3,500.00 

Gate iron work, etc 15,000.00 

Gate house superstructure 5,000.00 

$685,180.00 



60 Report of Flood Commission 

COST OF CANAL, ETC. H. W. 203. 

Iron work, gates and pipes for feeder 

chamber $ 10,000.00 

Masonry for chamber and approaches . . 3,800.00 
Trestles, hoisting machinery, cables, 

etc 25,000.00 

Revetting and raising canal embank- 
ment 20,876.00 

$ 59,576.00 

COST OF HIGHWAYS. H. W. 203. 

169,700 cu. yds. refilling and embank- 
ment at 30c $ 50,910.00 

12,600 cu. yds. rip rap placed at $1.50. . 18,900.00 

36,952 lin. ft. surfacing at 35c. . . .. . . 12,933.00 

86,800 lin. ft. fencing at 15c 13,000.00 

24,400 grading at $1.00 24,400.00 

Right of way for new roads 35 A at 

$30.00 1,050.00 

Raising bridges 16,200.00 

$137,393.00 



Report of Engineer 61 

COST OF RAILROADS. H. W. 203. 
Greenwood Lake Branch, Erie R. R. 

Right of way and clearing $ 20,975,00 

Bridges, culverts and drains 87,662.00 

Track, side tracks and switches 47,625.00 

Stations, water tanks and signals. ..... 12,000.00 

844 cu. yds. rip rap placed at $1.25 1,055.00 

56,368 cu. yds. rock excavation at 

$L10 62,000.00 

1,294 cu. yds. loose rock at 50c 647.00 

159,997 cu. yds. earth at 26c 41,594.00 

350,000 cu. yds. embankment (borrow) 

at 30c 105,000.00 

$378,558.00 
Deducting for 9 miles track and signals 

on present line 17,000.00 

$361,558.00 

DELAWARE, LACKAWANNA & WESTERN R. 
R. H. W. 203. 

Right of way and clearing $ 9,950.00 

Bridges, culverts and drains 32,500.00 

Track, side tracks and switches 58,050.00 

Station, water tanks and signals 20,000.00 

Ballast 20,250.00 

75,000 cu. yds. rock excavation at 1.15. . 76,250.00 
33,000 cu. yds. earth excavation at 0.25. 8,250.00 
75,000 cu. yds. borrowed embankment 

at 0.30 22,500.00 

$245,270.00 
Deducting for track, bridges and sig- 
nals on present line 32,800.00 

$212,470.00 



62 Report of Flood Commission 

COST OF DAM AT MOUNTAIN VIEW, 
H. W. 220. 

44,000 cubic yards concrete masonry 

at $5.50 $242,000.00 

28,100 cubic yards cyclopean concrete 

masonry at $4.10 115,210.00 

1,950 cubic yard sconcrete facing 

blocks at $10.00 19,500.00 

21,200 cubic yards rock excavation at 

$1.00 21,200.00 

413,600 cubic yards earth excavation 

at 27c 111,672.00 

1,169,600 cubic yards refilling and em- 
bankment at 33c 885,968.00 

33,100 cubic yards soil stripping at 

30c 9,930.00 

24,400 cubic yards slope paving at 

$2.50 61,000.00 

16,300 cubic yards broken stone at 75c 12,225.00 

10,300 cubic yards soiling at 40c 4,120.00 

1,500 square yards sodding at $1.00. . 1,500.00 

8,400 cubic yards rip rap at $1. 8,400.00 

100 M f B M timber sheeting, etc., at 

$35.00 3,500.00 

Iron work, pipes, gates, etc 59,000.00 

Gate house superstructure 7,000.00 

$1,062,225.00 



Report of Engineer 63 

COST OF CANAL. H. W. 220. 

23,000 cubic yards rock excavation at 

$1.00 at $ 23,000.00 

75,435 cubic yards earth excavation at 

25c 18,858.75 

20,500 cubic yards puddle at 70c 14,350.00 

48,800 cubic yards borrow at 40c 19,520.00 

3,000 cubic yards concrete at $5.50. . . 16,500.00 

Aqueduct 25,000.00 

Incline moved 8,000.00 

Right of way 2,000.00 



$127,227.75 



COST OF HIGHWAYS, H. W. 220. 
875,475 cu. yds. refilling and embank- 
ment at 0.26 $227,623.00 

69,000 cu. yds. rip rap placed, at $1.50. . 103,500.00 

70,722 lin. ft. surfacing, at 35 24,755.00 

164,400 lin. ft. fencing, at 015 24,700.00 

39,300 lin. ft. grading, at 1.00 39,300.00 

Right of way for new roads 58A, at 

$30.00 1,740.00 

Raising bridges 36,500.00 

$458,118.00 



64 Report of Flood Commission 

COST OF RAILROADS. H. W. 220. 
Greenwood Lake Branch, Erie R. R. 

Right of way and clearing $ 9,810.00 

Bridges, culverts and drains 104,893.00 

Tracks, side tracks and switches 47,625.00 

Stations, water tanks and signals 12,000.00 

18,675 cu. yds. rip rap placed at $1.25. . 23,337.00 
66,910 cu. yds. rock excavation, at $1.10. 73,600.00 
1,300 cu. yds. loose rock excavation, at 

0.50 650.00 

454,400 cu. yds. earth excavation, at 

0.26 40,144.00 

399,000 cu. yds. embankment (borrow) 

at 0.30 119,700.00 

$431,759.00 
Deducting for track and signals on 

present line 17,000.00 

$414,759.00 

DELAWARE, LACKAWANNA & WESTERN R. 
R., H. W. 220. 

Right of way and clearing $ 9,950.00 

Bridges, culverts and drains 32,500.00 

Track, side tracks and switches 58,050.00 

Stations, water tanks and signals 20,000,00 

Ballast and rip rap 22,162.00 

75,000 cu. yds. rock excavation at $1.15 76,250.00 
33,000 cu. yds. earth excavation at 0.25 8,250.00 
75,000 cu. yds. borrowed embankment 

at $0.30 22,500.00 

$249,662.00 
Deducting for track, bridge and signals 

of present line 32,800.00 

$216,862.00 



Report of Engineer 65 

N. Y, S. & W. R. R, H. W. 220. 

Grading and trestles on temporary line . .$12,540.00 

Clearing and track 8,470.00 

15,750 cu. yds. rip rap 19,387.00 

104,300 cu. yds. borrowed embankment, 

permanent (at 0.30) 31,290.00 

Raising bridge and culverts 4,000.00 



$75,687.00 

It would follow from the preceding that either 
of the proposed schemes is feasible and the writer 
does not consider the estimated cost of either great 
or prohibitory when the benefits and possible re- 
turns are considered. 

As these have been discussed at length by vari- 
ous authorities and with general unanimity as to 
their great values, the writer will not dwell upon 
them further. 

The time required to carry out either of the 
above plans would be nearly three years as the 
railroad and canal relocation work and some of 
the highway work would have to be completed 
and traffic changed before work on the dam could 
be begun in earnest and it is estimated that to 
build the dam will require two full seasons. 

The Engineer Corps employed on this investiga- 
tion was composed as follows: 

J. C. Hallock, Engineer in Charge; 
J. R. Van Duyne, Resident Engineer; 
H. Rosentreter, Principal Assistant Engi- 
neer, succeeded upon his retirement by 

J. W. Du B. Gould, Principal Assistant 
Engineer; 

W. G. Tyler, Transitman; 
M. I. Nagel, Draughtsman; 
Adolf Kroeber, Draughtsman. 



66 Report of Flood Commission 

In addition there were employed at different 
times and in various capacities 25 men as instru- 
mentmen, rodmen, axemen, etc. 

In conclusion the writer wishes to acknowledge 
his sense of obligation to the Engineer Corps for 
the loyalty, interest and industry displayed in the 
prosecution of this work. Zealous effort was not 
confined to the heads of parties and to others in 
position of responsibility. It extended throughout 
the membership of the Corps and reflects credit on 
the senior members and especially upon Mr. Hal- 
lock the Engineer in Charge, to whom for his act- 
ive operation the writer feels that thanks are spec- 
ially due. 

Very respectfully, 

Chas. S. Gowen, 

Consulting Engineer. 



Legislation Recommended. 



LEGISLATION RECOMMENDED. 

An Act to amend an act entitled " An act to pro- 
vide for the regulation of the flow of torrential 
rivers, to protect persons and property from dam- 
age by floods, and to provide for the maintenance 
and regulation of river flood districts when estab- 
lished by law," approved April nineteenth, one 
thousand nine hundred and four. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and General Assem- 
bly of the State of New Jersey : 

1. Section five of said act be amended to read 
as follows : 

5. The said commission shall have power to con- 
struct any dams, reservoirs or other works by 
them undertaken in accordance with this act under 
or over any water course, under or over or across 
or along any street, turnpike or highway, or other 
public or quasi-public structures, and for that pur- 
pose are hereby authorized to take the lands, real 
estate, water rights, or rights and interests in 
lands other than those used for railroad or canal 
purposes, and in the case of public highways or 
other public or quasi-public structures, to require 
the same to be abandoned so far as may be neces- 
sary, for the purpose of said works and to be re- 
laid, if necessary, by some other route or in some 
other location ; damages for taking of such other 
property, as well as the value of such property 
taken, to be paid for according to law ; the said 
commissioners shall also have power to alter or 
change the grade of any highway or public street 
where necessary for the purpose of carrying out 
the plans by them adopted ; if it shall become 
necessary to change the location or gradient of any 

69 



70 Report of Flood Commission 

canal or railroad operated under a charter, or the 
appurtenances thereof, the corporation owning and 
operating the same shall be authorized to relocate 
and change the same so far as needful and to ac- 
quire by condemnation or purchase under its char- 
tered powers the property necessary for such 
changes, and to agree with said commissioners 
upon the details of such changes, the cost thereof 
to be paid by the commissioners as part of the ex- 
pense of the said works ; or such needed property 
may be acquired by the commissioners by purchase 
or condemnation under their powers, and the same 
conveyed by them to such railroad or canal com- 
pany. 

2. Section seven of said act be amended so as 
to read as follows : 

7. When the said commissioners shall have 
adopted a plan of works for the control and re- 
straint of the flood v/aters of the district they shall 
file a copy thereof, together with a map showing 
the lands to be taken, flowed or otherwise affected 
by said works, and the area and extent of any res- 
ervoir to be constructed, in the office of the county 
clerk of the county or counties within which said 
lands lie or said works are to be constructed ; they 
shall also cause to be made a careful estimate of 
the cost of said works, in which shall be included 
the cost of the lands, w^ater rights, and interests in 
lands to be acquired, and the damages for the 
taking thereof, together with an estimate of the 
cost of changing the location of any railroads, canal, 
highways, or other public or quasi-public struct- 
ures, which may require to be changed in carry- 
ing out said plans, and other lawful expenses inci- 



Legislation Recommended 71 

dent thereto, and shall file a copy of said estimate 
with the said plans in the office of the clerk of the 
county or counties within which said lands lie or in 
which said works are to be constructed. The 
said ' commissioners shall also at the same 
time proceed to ascertain and inquire what 
lands and real estate within said flood dis- 
trict will be specially benefitted by the con- 
struction and maintenance of said works and the 
approximate amount of said benefits ; also the 
amount of such special benefits as will accrue to 
every city, township, borough or other munici- 
pality, wholly or partly within said flood district, 
and to the county or counties within which said 
works are located, or which are benefitted 
thereby ; and as accurately as may be, specify the 
extent of lands on each side of said river within 
said flood district that will be benefitted by said 
works; thereupon the said commissioners shall 
make application to a justice of the Supreme 
Court for the appointment of three discreet 
persons to make an" assessment of the costs, dam- 
ages and expenses to be incurred by the said com- 
missioners for the acquiring of the said lands, 
water-rights, rights and interests in lands, the 
construction of said works, and other lawful costs 
and expenses connected therewith as shown in the 
said estimate. Notice of such application shall be 
given by publication in one or more newspapers 
published within said flood district, by at least 
three publications, the first of which shall be pub- 
lished at least ten days prior to the day on which 
said application is to be made ; such justice of the 
Supreme Court, when applied to as aforesaid, on 
due proof that such notice has been given, is 
hereby authorized and required to appoint three 



72 Report of Flood Commission 

discreet persons as aforesaid, who shall be denomi- 
nated assessors ; and in case of the death, resigna- 
tion, disability or refusal to serve of any such 
assessor, the vacancy shall be filled as soon as may 
be by the said justice, or in case of his death or 
disability by any other justice of said Court, upon 
such notice as he shall direct. The assessors so to 
be appointed shall, before entering upon the duties 
of their office, take, subscribe and file, in the office 
of the clerk of the Supreme Court, an oath faith- 
fully to discharge the duties devolving upon them. 

3. Section eight of said act be amended to read 
as follows: 

8. The said assessors, upon their appointment 
and qualification shall forth with proceed to make a 
just and equitable assessment of the cost of acquiring 
the said lands and rights, and of constructing said 
works as estimated by the said flood commissioners, 
upon all of the lands of private owners within said 
district specially benefitted by such works, or to be 
benefitted thereby, in proportion to the benefits 
actually acquired or to be acquired by said land; 
but in no case shall the assessment upon any lands 
exceed the special benefits arising from said works 
to the lands so assessed; the said assessors shall also 
make a just and equitable assessment upon the 
cities, townships, boroughs and other municipal 
corporations lying wholly or partially within 
said flood district, and upon the county or 
counties within which said works are lo- 
cated or which are benefited thereby, the 
amount of benefits received or to be received 
by such counties, cities, townships, boroughs and 
other municipalities by reason of said works, in 
proportion to the benefits actually received or to 



Legislation Recommended 73 

be received by each of them; the benefits assessed 
shall not exceed the total cost of said works as 
estimated by the commissioners, nor shall any 
lands or any county, city, township, borough or 
municipality be assessed a greater sum than the 
other amount of benefits received or to be re- 
ceived from said works. 

4. Section ten of said act be amended to read 

as follows: 

10. Whenever the assessors shall have com- 
pleted their assesment,they shall cause a map to be 
made showing the location and boundaries of each 
parcel of land so assessed, and shall designate on 
each parcel of land upon said map the name of the 
owner thereof so far as known to the assessors, 
and they shall make a certificate showing the whole 
amount of said assessments, with the amount 
assessed against each parcel of land and against 
each county, city, or other municipality, and the 
names of the owners set opposite thereto, so far as 
the same may be known to the assessors, which 
map and certificate shall be filed in the office of the 
clerk of the county or counties in which said flood 
district is situated; thereupon said assessors shall 
give ten days' public notice in the manner provided 
by the sixth section of this act that they have com- 
pleted the map and certificate required hereby, that 
the same have been filed,and that they will meet at 
a certain time and place designated in said notice, 
to hear and consider objections to said assessments 
and to revise, correct and finally confirm the same ; 
at which time and place the said assessors shall 
meet and give all parties appearing before them an 
opportunity of being fully and fairly heard con- 
cerning the said assessments or the subject matter 



74 Report qf Flood Commission 

thereof ; the said assessors, after revising and cor- 
recting their said report, shall confirm the same 
and file the said report with the clerk or clerks of 
the said county or counties as aforesaid and upon 
the coming in of said final report, signed by said 
assessors, or any two of them, the said flood com- 
missioners shall cause notice to be given in the 
same manner as prescribed in the sixth section of 
of this act, of an application to be made to a justice 
of the Supreme Court for the confirmation and 
approval thereof, which notice shall state the time 
and place at which such application will be made 
and, at the time and place appointed, the 
said justice shall hear any matter that may 
be alleged against said report, or any part thereof 
and shall either confirm the same or refer it back to 
the same or new assessors, to be appointed by the 
said justice to reconsider the subject matter 
thereof ; and the said assessors to whom said re- 
port shall be referred shall return the same report, 
corrected and revised, or a new report, to be by 
them made in the premises, to the said justice, 
within such time as he shall by order direct, and 
the same, on being so returned, shall be confirmed 
or again referred by such justice in the manner 
aforesaid, as right and justice shall require, and so 
from time to time until a report shall be made or 
returned which the said justice shall confirm, and 
such report, when so confirmed, shall be final and 
conclusive, as well upon the said flood commission- 
ers as upon the owners of any lands and real estate 
affected thereby, and the counties, cities, town- 
ships, boroughs and other municipalities affected 
thereby. 

5. Section eleven of said act be amended to read 
as follows : 



Legislation Recommended 75 

11. From and after the filing of said map and 
report as aforesaid, and the final confirmation 
thereof, said assessment shall be and remain a lien 
upon each parcel of land so assessed for the 
amount thereof, with interest thereon, until the 
same shall be paid and satisfied, notwithstanding 
any devise, descent or alienation of said lands or 
any judgment, mortgage or incumbrance thereon, 
and notwithstanding any mistake in the name or 
names of the, or omission to name the, owner or 
owners thereof, and any assessment in which such 
mistake or omission occurs shall, nevertheless, be a 
valid and effectual lien upon the lands assessed ; and 
every assessment against any county, city, town- 
ship, borough or other municipality, shall con- 
stitute and remain a legal obligation against 
such county, city, township, borough or 
other municipality, with interest thereon ; pro- 
vided, however, that if the works herein pro- 
vided for shall not be commenced within five 
years from the date of the confirmation of the 
said report and assessment, unless restrained by 
the order or proceedings of some competent court 
pending the result of litigation affecting the said 
works, the said assessments shall become null and 
void and cease to be a lien upon the lands upon 
which the same are levied, or an obligation against 
such county, city, township, borough or other mu- 
nicipality. 

6. Section twelve of said act be amended to 
read as follows : 

12. All assessments made and confirmed un- 
der this act shall be paid in five annual equal in- 
stallments, or sooner at the option of the property 
owner, with lawful interest on each sum paid 



76 Report of Flood Commission 

from the date on which the sum became a Hen or 
obhgation, and shall be paid to and collected by 
the said flood commissioners through their treas- 
urer or other financial officer ; the said flood com- 
missioners shall fix the date at which the first an- 
nual payment shall be due and payable. 

7. Section thirteen of said act be amended to 
read as follows : 

13. If the total amount of the assessment for 
benefits shall not equal the estimated cost of the 
said works, or if the total expense of constructing 
the said works shall exceed the estimated cost 
thereof, the residue of such cost shall be borne 
and paid by the flood district in manner follow- 
ing: — It shall be the duty of the said commission- 
ers as soon as may be after the completion of the 
said works, to proceed to ascertain and fix the total 
cost of erecting the said works including the costs, 
damages and expenses incurred by the said com- 
missioners in acquiring lands, water-rights, rights 
and interests in lands and other lawful costs and 
expenses connected therewith, and shall enter the 
same by resolution on their minutes, and if the 
total cost and expense of constructing said works 
shall exceed the total amount of benefits assessed 
as provided herein, then the residue thereof, over 
and above the benefits assessed, shall immediately 
become and remain a charge upon all property 
within the limits of said flood district as fully as 
the Legislature of this State shall have power to 
authorize the same ; and the said commissioners 
shall forthwith proceed to apportion between the 
several municipalities or taxing districts lying in 
whole or in part within said flood district a just 
proportion of said residue, according to the num- 



Legislation Recommended 77 

ber of acres of land in each of said municipali- 
ties or taxing districts included within said flood 
district, and shall certify such proportion 
so assigned to each taxing district to the assessor, 
taxing board or taxing officer of said municipality 
or taxing district, and thereupon it shall be 
the duty of the said assessor, board or taxing 
officer to levy one-fifth part of the said sum in 
each year thereafter for five successive years upon 
all property in said municipality or taxing 
district that shall or may be located within the 
limits of the said flood district; the said taxes shall 
be levied, assessed and collected by the same offi- 
cers, at the same time, and in the same manner, 
and with the same eflPect in all things as State and 
county taxes are required to be levied, assessed and 
collected within said municipality or taxing dis- 
trict, and when so collected shall be paid over to 
the treasurer or other financial officer of the said 
flood commissioners. 

The said flood commissioners may borrow money 
upon notes or bonds of said commissioners issued 
in their corporate capacity in anticipation of the 
collection of the said special assessment against 
lands, counties, cities, townships,boroughs and other 
municipalities and may pledge said assessments as 
security therefor, and may also issue,in like manner, 
certificates of indebtedness or bonds in payment of 
the residue of the said cost and expense over and 
above the total amount of said special assessments; 
but no notes, bonds or other obligations shall be 
issued that shall run longer than ten years, and 
no rate of interest in excess of five per centum 
shall be allowed or paid by them upon any money 
borrowed in pursuance of this section. 



78 Report of Flood Commission 

8. Section fifteen of said act be amended to read 
as follows : 

15. When said works are completed the same 
shall be maintained and operated by the said flood 
commissioners. The said flood commissioners are 
authorized and empowered to lease any lands ac- 
quired by them as hereinbefore provided, for any 
purpose not inconsistent with the objects of this 
act, subject always to the right of flowage of said 
lands by waters impounded by the works con- 
structed by said commissioners ; no lease to run 
for more than five years but may be renewed from 
time to time as occasion may require. The moneys 
arising from the leasing of said lands shall be ap- 
plied by the said flood commissioners to the cost 
and maintenance of the said works, and any sur- 
plus over and above the amount required for this 
purpose shall be paid over annually to the State 
Treasurer for the use of the State, and if the re- 
ceipts from the leasing of lands as aforesaid shall 
not be sufficient in any year for the proper mainten- 
ance of said works the residue of said cost shall 
be borne by the State and paid by appropriation 
duly made for that purpose. 

9. This act shall take effect immediately. 

An act to repeal an act entitled "An act to 
amend an act entitled An act to provide for the 
regulation of the flow of torrential rivers, to pro- 
tect persons and property from damage by floods, 
and to provide for the maintenance and regulation 
of river flood districts when established by law, 
approved April nineteenth, one thousand nine hun- 
dred and four," which act was approved April fifth, 
one thousand nine hundred and five. 



Legislation Recommended 79 

Be it enacted by the Senate and General Assem- 
bly of the State of New Jersey: 

1. The act entitled " An act to amend an act en- 
titled * An act to provide for the regulation of the 
flow of torrential rivers, to protect persons and 
property from damage by floods, and to provide for 
the maintenance and regulation of river flood dis- 
tricts when established by law,' approved April 
nineteenth, one thousand nine hundred and four," 

which act was approved April fifth one thousand 
nine hundred and five, be and the same is hereby 
repealed. 

2. This act shall take effect immediately. 




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Plate I. 




Passaic River 
Flood District Commission 

Proposed Dam 

AT 

MouNTAN Mew 

High Water Elevation 220 

s c a L E or r ^ e: t 



NOVEMBER, 1906 




Passaic River 
Flood District Commission 

Proposed Dam 

AT 

Mountain Vew 

H16H Water Elevation 220 

N0VCMBER,I906 



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I J I I I \ L__l I I 1 l__L_l I I \ J I 



Sections o( Embankment 
Overflow of Dam 

Hfqh Water Elevation tZO 






'••iv^'ji* 



SECTION =' EMBANKMEI-IT SHOWIIG :uREWALL CI-1 CLAY 



SECTION »' EMBANKMENT SHOWING COREWALL ON ROCK 



scaLEorFEET 



SECTION THROUGH OVERFLOW 



Plate F. 

Sections of Gate House 
of Dam 

High Water Elevation ^^0 




SECTIONAL PLAN SHOWING GATE HOUSE '"<> WING WALLS 



Half Section STEP Half Section C-D 

SECTION THROUGH GATE HOUSE 

Lookini^ Down Stream 





Section A-B 

SECTION SHOWING GATE HOUSE \ WING WALL ELEVATION 



Section Q-P 

SECTION 
Showing Upstream Elevation of Gate House 

SCflLEOF FEET 



7 



ELEVATION 
180 



Plate ¥. 

G BORINGS 

kMSlTE 

i> JTyase on Plate I 



, 160 • SaivjamJCi m j 

ClaijandSa>' 

140 ■ 



i?o- 

100- 
80- 
60- 



leo- 

100- 
80- 
60- 



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■160 
-140 
-IBO 
-100 

- 80 

- 60 



-160 
-140 
-120 
-100 
-80 
- 60 



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180- 
100- 



60- 
40- 



-120 
-100 

- 80 

- 60 
-40 



-140 



100- 
80- 



Plate ¥. 

PROFILES SHOWING BORINGS 
Mountain VcwDam Site 

rest Hole Numbers Correspond To Those on Plate I 








SCHLEOFFEET 



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Plate m. 




New LOCATIONS OR CWNSES OF GRflDE 

SHOWN THUS Railroads -. 

Highways — ^-^^ 



assAic River Flood District Commission 
PLAN OF 

Proposed Reservoih 

Mountain View 

HISHWATER ELEVATION S03 



scnLE or r^cT 



HOV£Me£R. 1906 



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Flood District 

^N SHOW] 
JOSED RELGCAI 

^DL&W R.R. 

AND 

:is & Essex O 

sITAIN VIEW TO To\ 
SC^LE OFFEET 



HIate M. 




Plate n. 



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hOvCMBER. 1906 





Proposed - Relocation 

GREENWOOD UHE BRANCH -ERIE RR 

Mountain View 'o Pimton Juncfiom 



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370' 



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PASSAIC 

PROFILE OF PROP 



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PROFILE OF PKOPOSED RELOCATION 
GREENWOOD LAKE BRANCH ERIE R. R. 



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PROFILE OF PROPOSED CHANGE OF GRADE N. V., S. 4 W. R. R. 



Plate XIV. 




'BER, 1906 



Plate xm 




Passaic River Flood District Co 

PLAN OF 

Proposed Reservoir 
Mountain View 



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River Floo 

MAP 

tERSON AMI 

SHOW 

Of The I 

:port Of Ti 




Plate XIV. 




Passaic River Flood District Commission 

map of the 

District Betwen Paterson And Little Falls 

showing the 

Enumeration Of The Blocks In The Flooded Area 

As Noted In Reports Of The BENCriT Assessors 



NOVEm^R, 1306 



I 




Enumer 

As NoTi 



Plale XV 




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Plate IH. 




Passaic River Flood District Commission 

MAP OF A 

Part of Passaic and Bergen Countics 
SHOWING the 

Enumeration Or The Blocks In The Flooded Area 

As NoTCD In Heports Of The Benefit Assessors 
scffLE orrecT 



NOVEMBCR.ISOi 



Plate MK 




LE Ap '09 



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